I Love Shutterfly...

I Love Shutterfly.....did I mention that?  Ever since I discovered Shutterfly, I have been able to effectively mange all my photos and photo projects.  I know that is a crazy, overwhelming task....I have been trying to do that for several years...however, it has become a reality since I was introduced to this online photo management site.  If you open an account with this site, you receive email periodically with special offers...I love that....because most of the time it means free stuff!!!!  I just made a Mother's Day card with my daughter's photos.....

5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

I love Shutterfly! Don't forget your mother on Mother's Day....
Have fun today,

Denise


"Je suis reconnaissant pour mes bénédictions."
 "I am thankful for my blessings."

Auditions for a Black Cat

Would you take your cat to a Hollywood audition?  Sounds like an interesting afternoon.

 

I saw these people putting leashes on their cats and taking them to an audition... that left me in awe, shock, bewilderment, and utterly amused.  I wonder what the requirements were? Hmmmmm... must be black, cat, cooperative?

Take a look....

           

Awesome...right?     They all are like....actually leashed. 

That must have gone over well with the cats.

          

Ah- ha!  Vincent Price....it must have been an audition for Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat". V. Price and Edgar Allan Poe - what a great combination. Used to love these movies - Tales of Terror, House of Usher, The Raven... 

    

Why couldn't he just walk on the pavement like everybody else? 

Well, that's a cat for you.

       

Who brought a baby cat? We specifically said no baby cats Ma'am.....

         

Let's get this over with Lady.....

   

Holy Toledo! This woman's eyebrows are scarier than the Vincent Price Movies....

   

Um...what is happening here? I don't think I want to know...

       

There is about to be drama here, I can just tell....

    

This whole shot is awesome - the kid, his boots and vest, the cat, the guy with a cigarette, the woman with the crutches....you couldn't script this shot.

I just thought this was a fitting post as we approach Halloween...

also I do love Black Cats...the best!

Photos courtesy:

{photos LIFE archive - Hollywood audition for Black Cat, 1961}

Enjoy,

Denise ❤

The BEST Quick Chicken Chili

This is a recipe for the easiest, quick, Chicken Chili I have ever made.  My husband and 3 year old also went nuts over it so it is a winner in our house.

We served it over white rice and it was heavenly......

It starts with 2 or 3 frozen chicken breasts....

Pile all of the ingredients in a crock pot...

Top with the cream cheese...

Yummylicious...I bet we could also use this a great dip with taco chips...

I served it with chopped green onions on top!

Crock Pot Quick Chicken Chili

2 chicken breasts,  frozen
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can corn kernels, do not drain
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix
1 T cumin
1 t chili powder
1 t onion powder
1 8-oz pkg. cream cheese
_________
Put the chicken in the crock pot.
Top with the tomatoes, corn, drained and rinsed beans,
ranch dressing, cumin, onion and chili powders,
stir to combine then top with the cream cheese.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours, stirring one or twice
 to blend in the cheese.
Shred the chicken into large pieces
and serve over rice. 

If you need to feed a larger crowd,

 just double your ingredients and add more chicken breasts.

So easy it's sinful.
Serves 4

*****I would LOVE to take credit for this fantastic easy supper but alas,  I am not so lucky...

It was created by the talented Rita May.  Check out her blog and her fabulous easy recipes.  

Rita May

Bon Appetit!

Denise ❤


"Je suis reconnaissant pour mes bénédictions."
 "I am thankful for my blessings."

Are you kidding me?

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-new-decorroom/23778970.jsp?cm_mmc=PJN-_-Affiliates-_-Placement=20648-_-ShopAnthropologie

Ummmm, I LOVE Anthropologie...It is my favorite store, website, and place to shop PERIOD!   As a matter of fact, it is one of my ad links....HOWEVER, this lamp is...........well.....what do you think?

It is priced at $2800.00.

Yes, I said $2800.00.

No that is not a mistake.

Click on the link......it is for real.   Don't get me wrong...Anthropologie is one of my very favorite places EVER....but, I don't feel this lamp.   What was the buyer thinking?    I don't know....I do know one thing....I am sure there will be plenty of knock offs in blog land......ummm wait, maybe not.   What do you think?  Am I just not getting this lamp?  I would be very interested in knowing if I am the only one.

Have a great day.....


Denise ❤


"Je suis reconnaissant pour mes bénédictions."
 "I am thankful for my blessings."

Style Quiz....WOWZA! Was this right on the money!!!!!!

WOWZA was this right on the money!!!!!!  I took the style quiz on the Home Goods Web Site and boy was I amazed at how this quiz totally pegged my home decor style.  It even gave me my ideal paint colors which are EXACTLY the colors I have painted in my home. I am still in shock.....LOL

Try it and see where you rank...it is amazingly accurate....

Denise , You Are A BOHEMIAN CLASSIC

You have a refined sensibility and bring a sense of history and tradition into your decor. You appreciate how symmetrical arrangements and beautiful, well-crafted pieces create a solid foundation to a room. But you like to shake up this restraint with objects and accessories that express your personality and your love of other cultures. When traveling, you seek out unique objects that reflect what you love, and you use them in a sophisticated way. You want people to feel comfortable in your home, and cozy chairs, ethnic fabrics, unique pieces, and even a little touch of quirk or humor give your house a laid-back, Bohemian flair.

You value serenity. While there are probably a lot of interesting things in your home, they are joined by your taste or a certain palette that keeps them in harmony. You appreciate the beauty in simple forms. Whether fancy or plain, you appreciate things that are well made and function as well as they look. You also have a strong respect for the environment and craftsmanship. You care about how things are made, and how they are used.

Your Happy Home Colors

Your Design Challenge: UNIFYThe good news is, you probably have many things you love and have collected, and no one would ever say your home is boring! You've done the hard part; now you just need to pull it all together. If your furniture seems like a mish-mash, unify it through similar upholsters or slipcovers. When grouping objects, try to find something they have in common. If they share a shape, color or material, they will look like a collection. A tray is every decorator's secret weapon for making groups of small objects look purposeful and sculptural. If your accessories are all over the map, try subduing the upholstery or wall color, so your small items are the stars.

This is SO me...I am amazed at how accurate it is......


Have Fun,

Denise







"Je suis reconnaissant pour mes bénédictions."

 "I am thankful for my blessings."

A New Family Member.....

A new family member....

We now have a new family member....last November we discovered our beloved Chow Chow of 10 years was diagnosed with Hermangiosarcoma.  Basically this means a giant tumor in the abdomen.  It is terminal.  It was shocking and devastating.  Our family had to make a horrible choice that I would never wish on anyone.  My last act of love was to set him free.  I was crushed.

My 3 year old was also so sad...I couldn't make the hurt go away and if you are a parent, you know how that feels...HORRIBLE.  So, we decided to add a new family member and we love him.  He cannot ever replace our Chow Chow but we love him in a different way.  So is life.

Here are some photos:

 He is a Coton de Tulear, the royal dog of Madagascar.  This is a great link that explains the breed and it's rarity.  He's like 7 weeks old in these photos and he is so snuggly!

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-coton-de-tulear.html

Check out the breeder where we located him...she is phenominal...she really cares about her animals and strives to re-home other animals in her area.  Thank you so much Cuddly Cotons!!!

http://cuddlycotons.webs.com

I have actually made this little guy a royal doggie bed and I am will post my tutorial very soon.  Can't wait to show you!





"Je suis reconnaissant pour mes bénédictions."
 "I am thankful for my blessings."

I am sorry...

I am sorry....


I haven't been a very good blogger the past year.  I had such good intentions but it seems I wasn't too good at keeping my commitment to my blog.

Well, let's see....I could go into a tremendous explanation, but I don't know if that is the best thing to do.

I will say, I haven't had the best year.  I lost my father, in a very upsetting way.  I had to put my beloved dog to sleep after ten years as he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  I also had my own scare with cancer but I am so blessed,  and I will be ok.

So, with that being said...I will go into more details later on perhaps...or maybe not, as dwelling on the past may not be the best healing process.

Nonetheless...I am glad to be back, and I have some projects I have been working on, that I can't wait to post.  I think things are going to be OK, and I am truly thankful for my blessings. =)






"Je suis reconnaissant pour mes bénédictions."
 "I am thankful for my blessings."

LOSER!!!!!!

OK...I am a loser.....too much time has passed since my last entry and I have no excuse....I know...I suck.  However, I would like to at least attempt an excuse......I'll sum it up as quickly as possible.....

Out of town guests, 130 year old sink hole, hail damage, first day of school,  bids on a new roof...Ballet/Tap lessons, sick 3 year old, and insurance company........

There is more, though I feel that is enough to give you a general idea of the drama.....

HOWEVER, I do not want to negate the terrible predicament of the entire east coast this evening.  I am watching the weather channel and wowza this could be really bad.  Stay safe people for goodness sake.


My little pumpkin started school last Wednesday....she loves it...but she also has caught her "first week of school" cold!!!!!  What the ????????  We didn't even go a week before the fever and runny nose came upon us. =(

With that being said.....this is the wonderful yummyness I made for her and her Daddy this evening...they loved it....Jewish Penicillin.....

True comfort food.....and it looks exactly like this when it's done
.... enjoy....and be safe this weekend......


Oh, BTW, Pioneer Woman premieres this Saturday at 10:30 am CST!!!!  Her Food Network debut!!!!  Set your DVR!!!!!! (I did)


Photos and recipe courtesy of Ree Drummond...the one and only Pioneer woman =)

 It’s beautiful, simple homemade Chicken and Noodles—a thick, hearty dish not to be confused with a thinner, brothier chicken noodle soup. It’s so perfectly yummy and soul-pleasing.

While you could certainly go the turbo homemade route and make your own egg noodles, I”ll show you a quick and easy alternative that I think is just as good.

You won’t believe how delicious such a simple dish can be.

The Cast of Characters: A whole fryer chicken, carrot, celery, onion …

And all of this business. I actually prefer using dried parsley flakes for this soup. One of the few circumstances where fresh isn’t necessarily preferred.

(And let me tell you why....Because it will turn your soup green!!!!)  I am serious.....

Now. You can certainly make your own noodles.

But.

But here’s where the “homemade” part of this recipe is in finger quotes, because I’m going to give you permission to use these. Let me tell you, my friends, if you haven’t ever used Reames frozen egg noodles, you’re missing out on one of the best storebought, prepackaged foods there is.

Ingredients: flour, water, and eggs. That’s it.

I’ve made my own noodles, and I’ve used Reames. And I’d serve Reames to guests every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

***This is not a paid advertisement for Reames Egg Noodles, for Lord’s sake.***

To my utter discontent, however, Reames recently changed their packaging. I hate it when products change their packaging; it makes me feel forlorn and lonesome, and I feel a sense of loss for the old look.

But they taste the same. And that’s a very, very good thing.

Okay! Let’s get the party started. Throw the chicken pieces into a pot.

Cover the chicken with about 4 quarts of water…

And bring the pot to a boil.

When the water comes to a boil, turn the heat to low. Simmer the chicken for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, remove the chicken from the pot with a slotted spoon. Keep the broth simmering on low.

Grab a couple of forks…

And use the forks to pull the meat off the bones. It should pretty much be done; if there’s a little pink or red left, don’t worry—it’s going back in the pot later.

Continue with all the chicken pieces, pulling as much of the meat off the bones as you can, slightly shredding the meat in the process. Cover the meat and set aside or stick in the fridge.

As you remove the meat, return the bones to the broth.

Simmer the bones for 45 minutes on low (you can be more thorough getting the meat off than I was. Sorry. Lazy.)

While the bones are simmering, dice up some carrots.

Lop off the tips…

Then cut them in half, lengthwise.

Lay them all with the cut side down…

And cut each half in three long slices.

Then slice across the carrots to create a dice.

Easy as pie! I like to keep the dice pretty large because:

a) I love cooked carrots

and

b) This makes it easier for those who don’t like cooked carrots to pick them out and pipe down

Dice up some celery, too. And include some of the inner stalks with the pretty leaves. That’s my favorite part.

You can also include a little diced onion, but I like to buck the rules of mirepoix and just go with carrots and celery.

I’m a rebel that way.

Remove the bones from the broth with a slotted spoon, making sure to get any small bones that might have detached. Then throw the carrots and celery into the pot.

Then use your freaky pink alien hand to add the salt.

Next, add turmeric. It adds flavor and color, color, color.

I’ve been on a real turmeric kick lately. Try it sometime! It’s magical.

Now add ground white pepper. I added quite a bit and it made the dish a little bit peppery/spicy, which we loved. But start sparingly and add more as you like. Also add in the ground thyme, and some of the chicken base if you’d like a little more intense chicken flavor.

But it really shouldn’t need it.

Finally, add the parsley flakes.

Stir this together and let it simmer for another ten minutes, just to let the flavors come together a bit.

Now grab a package of egg noodles. Crank up the heat to compensate for the coldness of the noodles.

Dump ‘em right on in.

Stir to separate all the noodles.

Now throw in the chicken!

It’s starting to get real here, folks.

Simmer this on medium-low for eight to ten minutes.

Yum.

Now, ten minutes later, this is a delicious, wonderful, scrumptious, hearty chicken noodle soup. Just taste and check the seasonings and serve it in this state if you like.

But that’s not what I’m going for here.

What I’m going for is thick, beautiful chicken and noodles. Add some water to a little flour…

Stir it together until smooth…

And pour it into the pot…

Let it simmer for five additional minutes, or until the broth thickens. Feel free to add a little more flour/water if needed, or if it gets too thick, add a little water.

Mmmm. You know you’re about to eat something yummy when the sides of the pot look like this.

And when the contents of the pot look like this.

Oh dear. This is comfort food. This is home.

Look. It’s a photography thing. Exposure and all that stuff. In order to properly expose the darker contents of the pot, my hand is always pink and freaky and bright white.

I’ll cover it sometime on Pioneer Woman Photography. It’s too painful for me to discuss here.

(Please check out ThePioneerWoman.com....you will get lost in all the great recipes and lovely 

photography.....Ree is so talented!)

And at that brief moment in time, everything was right in the world.

Enjoy this! It’s what life is all about.

Recipe: Homemade Chicken and Noodles

Prep Time: 10 Minutes  |  Cook Time: 1 Hour  |  Difficulty: Easy  |  Servings: 6

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Ingredients

• 1 whole Cut Up Fryer Chicken
• 2 whole Carrots, Diced
• 2 stalks Celery, Diced
• 1/2 whole Medium Onion, Diced (optional)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon White Pepper (more To Taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Thyme
• 2 teaspoons Parsley Flakes
• 16 ounces, weight Frozen "homemade" Egg Noodles
• 3 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour

Preparation Instructions

Cover chicken in 4 quarts water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove chicken from pot with a slotted spoon. With two forks, remove as much meat from the bones as you can, slightly shredding meat in the process. Return bones to broth and simmer on low, covered, for 45 minutes.

Remove bones from broth with a slotted spoon, making sure to get any small bones that might have detached.

Add the carrots and celery (and onions, if using) to the pot, followed by the herbs and spices. Stir to combine and simmer for ten minutes to meld flavors.

Increase heat and add frozen egg noodles and chicken. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes.

Mix flour and a little water. Stir until smooth. Pour into soup, stir to combine, and simmer for another 5 minutes, or until broth thickens a bit. Test and adjust seasonings as needed.

This is so good and your family will love you big.....I know it's really not chilly enough yet for soup but my baby is sick.....this always makes her feel better.....

Bon Soir my friends....muuuwah!

Denise ❤


"Je suis reconnaissant pour mes bénédictions."
 "I am thankful for my blessings."